Siblings in Chinese: How to Say and Use Family Terms in Mandarin

Wondering how to teach your child “siblings” in Chinese? In English, “siblings” is a single neutral word. In Mandarin Chinese, you’ll discover a richer vocabulary that distinguishes older brother, younger brother, older sister, and younger sister. The closest general phrase is 兄弟姐妹 (xiōngdì jiěmèi) the go-to way to say “siblings in Chinese.”

This guide will help you understand and pronounce each term, show how to use them in real-life family or classroom situations, and offer Wukong Education’s tips for teaching them.

Basic Translations – Chinese Siblings Vocabulary

Below are the essential words for Chinese siblings:

• 兄弟姐妹 (xiōngdì jiěmèi) – siblings in Chinese

• 哥哥 (gēge) – older brother

• 弟弟 (dìdi) – younger brother

• 姐姐 (jiějie) – older sister

• 妹妹 (mèimei) – younger sister

We’ll now look at each term in detail.

Older Brother in Chinese / How to Say Little Brother in Chinese

Older Brother in Mandarin: 哥哥 (gēge)

Example: 我有一个哥哥 (wǒ yǒu yí gè gēge) – “I have an older brother.”

Little Brother in Chinese / How to Say Younger Brother in Chinese: 弟弟 (dìdi)

Example: 她有两个弟弟 (tā yǒu liǎng gè dìdi) – “She has two little brothers.”

This covers both “younger brother in Chinese”, “younger brother in Mandarin”, and “how to say little brother in Chinese.”

Older Sister in Chinese / How to Say Older Sister in Chinese

Older Sister Chinese / Older Sister in Mandarin: 姐姐 (jiějie)

Example: 这是我的姐姐 (zhè shì wǒ de jiějie) – “This is my older sister.”

This addresses all variants like “older sister in Chinese,” “older sister Chinese,” and “how to say older sister in Chinese.”

Younger Sister in Chinese / Younger Sister in Mandarin

Younger Sister Chinese / Little Sister in Chinese / Little Sister in Mandarin: 妹妹 (mèimei)

Example: 他的妹妹五岁 (tā de mèimei wǔ suì) – “His younger sister is five.”

This covers “younger sister in Chinese,” “younger sister in Mandarin,” “little sister in Chinese,” and “little sister in Mandarin.”

Sisters in Chinese

When you want to talk about sisters in Chinese in general, say 姐妹 (jiěmèi). It means “sisters” collectively without specifying older or younger.

Example: 她们是好姐妹 (tāmen shì hǎo jiěmèi) – “They are good sisters.”

Pronunciation and How to Use Siblings in Chinese

Learning tones:

• gē (high level) for 哥哥

• dì (falling) for 弟弟

• jiě (falling-rising) for 姐姐

• mèi (falling) for 妹妹

Cultural Background & Fun Activities

Chinese distinguishes siblings by age to show respect and family order. Learning these words gives kids insight into Chinese culture and character formation (many include radicals for people or family).

Activities:

1. Family Tree Labeling – Write “哥哥” for older brother, “弟弟” for younger brother, etc.

2. Role-Play: “Hi, this is my younger sister in Mandarin…”

3. Flashcard Match: Match images of family members with words like siblings in Chinese, older sister Chinese, younger brother Chinese.

In Wukong Chinese classes, we embed these activities to help children master real-world phrases naturally.

FAQs

Q1: What is the word for sibling in Chinese?

The closest is 兄弟姐妹 (xiōngdì jiěmèi).

Q2: How to say older sister in Chinese?

Say 姐姐 (jiějie) for older sister in Mandarin.

Q3: How to say little brother in Chinese?

Use 弟弟 (dìdi) for younger or little brother.

Q4: How to say younger sister in Chinese?

Say 妹妹 (mèimei) for younger or little sister.

Conclusion

Learning the many ways to say siblings in Chinese from older sister Chinese (姐姐) to younger brother Chinese (弟弟) gives students a deeper grasp of Mandarin vocabulary and culture.

Roxy | WuKong Chinese Teacher

I have been deeply involved in the K12 education field for many years, acquiring rich professional knowledge and experience. My extensive understanding of Chinese culture and education enhances my ability to integrate diverse educational methodologies. I hold a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Melbourne, which bolsters my expertise and pedagogical skills. Passionate about fostering educational environments that inspire and empower, I am committed to creating inclusive learning experiences. My aim is to positively impact students’ lives and equip them with tools for success in a globalized world.